A Mt. Juliet Police officer, who was on patrol early Thursday morning, discovered a deceased female in a parked vehicle at the U-Store-It storage facility off of Central Pike near S. Mt. Juliet Road.

Sara A. McPherson, 35, Mt. Juliet, was found shot to death in the driver’s seat. This is a homicide, and investigators are working diligently and swiftly by following all avenues that lead to the offender’s identity.

Since the early morning hours Thursday, investigators have been scouring the crime scene in the frigid temperatures to piece together every bit of evidence. Lebanon Police Department’s Forensic Unit responded to the scene, and they are assisting Mt. Juliet investigators with their experience and resources. The Medical Examiner has estimated that the death occurred anytime between 10 p.m. Oct. 31 to when the officer first located her. The vehicle that the victim was in has been transported to a secure facility so it can be properly processed for evidence.

McPherson was not an employee of the storage facility, and there is no indication that the she was looking at a storage unit. Also, there is no indication that this is a random killing, and the public is not in any immediate danger.

“This is a very unfortunate and sad event, and it is the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s mission to investigate this homicide with complete dedication to ensure that justice is met for the victim,” a statement from the Mt. Juliet Department read Thursday.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have had contact with McPherson very recently to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department. Anyone with information, no matter how slight, could be of assistance to investigators. The department can be contacted at (615) 754-2550. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or via the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org/ .